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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Ask Mr. Music by Jerry Osborne

I am continuing our feature: Ask "Mr. Music." Now in its 24th year of syndication (1986-2010), Jerry Osborne's weekly Q&A feature will be a regular post every Wednesday from now on. Be sure to stop by Jerry's site (http://www.jerryosborne.com/) for more Mr. Music archives, record price guides, anything Elvis, buy & sell collectibles, record appraisals and much more. I thank Jerry for allowing the reprints.

FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 25, 2010

DEAR JERRY: In 1959 or '60, I heard a song on the radio, but never once heard it again. The title may be something about a lovers hymn.

Believe me, I have checked everywhere but can find no mention anywhere of such a tune. I recall it has an R&B flavor to it, with a male lead voice and a female group backing him.

Did I really hear this? I'm beginning to wonder if all of this is only in my mind. You are my last resort.—Jim Goyette, Ft. Myers, Fla.

DEAR JIM: After trying so hard on your own to solve this mystery, you deserve an answer. Even if it is from your last resort.

Your recollection of the facts is excellent, it is indeed “A Lovers Hymn” issued in April 1959 (Dot 15943), by the Fontane Sisters.

Though this single did not make the national charts it did get some regional air play, which you obviously know.

You even describe accurately the male lead singer and the female backup; however, just from seeing the record label you could not know anyone other than the Fontane Sisters is involved.

The male singer you hear is Charlie Singleton, who is also the writer of “A Lovers Hymn.” Strangely, Singleton is not credited as a performer anywhere on the label — this despite his being the primary voice on the session.

Not crediting a backup singer or orchestra is not uncommon. Failing to even make mention of the lead singer is practically unheard of.

A scattered few records exist with no artist credit whatsoever, but I do not recall one like this Dot single.

Granted, the Fontane Sisters were the bigger name act, but at least something like “The Fontane Sisters with [or Featuring] Charlie Singleton” should have been used.

IZ ZAT SO? Over the past 70 years (1940-2009) only twice did the nation's No. 1 Pop song have a month in the title: Pat Boone's “April Love” (1957) and “December 1963 (Oh What a Night),” by the 4 Seasons (1976).

“November Rain,” by Guns 'N Roses, reached No. 3, as did Freddy Cannon's “June, July, and August,” but only because its flip side is “Palisades Park.” “June, July, and August,” a tune about summer vacation (“gonna shout … school is out”), is also the answer to your first question.

Special thanks to Kenneth Atlas, of Cashbox magazine, for assistance in preparing this feature

Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. Write Jerry at Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368, e-mail: jpo@olympus.net, or visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com. All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.